The Mystery of You

Chapter Eight

Summer’s POV 

The footsteps are getting louder. Their approach sending a jolt of fear through my body. 

I jerk my wrists and feel them collide painfully with the cold steel that is holding me in place. 

The footsteps continue to approach. Their ominous echo increasing my urgency. 

I tug again, pulling and thrashing with all my might but it’s no use. 

My eyes scan the dim room quickly and my brain kicks into survival mode. 

My bones begin to crack and although the searing pain burns like the fires of hell, I know I must continue. 

Keep going… I just have to keep going.

I think to myself, gritting my teeth and directing all my energy to this one task. This one thing that used to come so naturally to me. 

Then I see them. 

The shadows of my captures as they pass by the tiny window on the door at the other end of the room. 

Maybe they will keep walking.  Maybe I will do this. 

A surge of energy bursts through me and I feel the shift coming. 

The shadows pass by and I almost gasp in relief. 

Hope. 

For the first time in what feels like forever, I begin to feel like I can make it out of here. 

And then just like that… it’s ripped away from me in an instant. 

The door flies open and the white gowns move towards me speedily. 

“This one is about to shift!” 

“Quick, give her a double shot! Now!” 

One of the ghouls comes at me with a vial of liquid and I toss my head around in protest. 

I let out a scream in agony as something sharp is poked into my arm forcefully. 

I feel my muscles begin to weaken. 

My mind is still ready to fight but my limbs won’t comply. 

I’m pinned to the bed. My head held in place while my mouth is pried open. 

As soon as the rancid liquid hits my tongue I begin to shake all over. 

It travels through my veins like acid and in that moment every ounce of hope is snuffed out. 

Tears fall from my eyes and my body goes numb.

My wolf moving further away from my reach once more. 

“That should keep her down.” A ghoul says, picking up his clipboard and jotting something down. 

“She’s a strong one this one. Who is suppose to be monitoring her? She could have escaped.” 

“Maybe the new guy? He is incompetent.” he says as he walks towards the metal trolley. 

“What are we giving her today?” 

“Shot of the B8 and D5.” 

My eyes widen in alarm as I see him prepare yet another needle. 

“Well this one is going to hurt… better tell the boss she might not make it.” he says as he approaches. 

“She will. Fighters always last the longest. She has cleared the other tests so far.” 

My inside voice screams internally but nothing comes out. 

Instead I have to listen to my own despair. Bouncing off every corner of my mind trying to make its escape. 

The needle pierces the skin and my eyes close automatically. 

***

My eyes shoot open and I find myself in complete darkness as usual. 

The place is silent. 

I stare up towards the ceiling and the light flickers intermittently. 

I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. 

I thought for sure that the last visit would kill me and part of me was more than okay with that. 

If this is what life will be like then I don’t want to be here any longer. I’m done. 

I bring my hand up to my head and rub my fingers across my temple. 

Damn whatever they gave me sure has left it’s mark this time. 

It’s then that it hits me. 

What the hell am I doing? 

I pull my hand away from my head in awe and stare at it, holding it in front of my face. 

“What the…?” I whisper to myself as I repeat the same movement with my other hand. 

My eyes shift down to the handcuffs which lie there open by my sides. 

I clutch at my chest in shock as I shuffle myself upwards on the uncomfortable bed. 

This can’t be… surely this can’t be. 

I dart my eyes back towards the tiny gap in the door but I see nothing. 

No movement. No sign of the white coats. 

I swing my legs over the side of the bed and touch them to the floor carefully. 

It surprises me how much effort it takes me just to stand on my own two feet but then again, I can’t remember the last time that I did. 

I stumble across the dark room and make it to the door just in time to support my unsteady legs. 

Shit. Get it together! 

I grit my teeth in determination. This could be my only chance and I must seize it. 

I press my hand down on the handle and it clicks open. I push the door open a little and cautiously peak out into the dim corridor which turns out to be just as uninviting as my room. 

There no one around and I can’t hear anything either. 

I tiptoe out into the open and decide to go left. 

I have no idea if it’s the right way or the wrong way but at this point I have no other option than to make a decision and make it fast. 

I speed up a little as I make my way past other dark rooms. 

No exit. 

Where the hell is the exit? 

Please Goddess, Please! 

Just then the sound of whimpering hits my ears and I stop dead in my tracks. It’s coming from one of the rooms. 

I walk towards it and fear creeps up on me as I peer through the window upon the hellish sight. 

Inside is a room almost identical to mine. 

But what’s more worrying is the woman lying in the darkness. 

I cannot see her face but I can hear her agony in her voice. 

Instinctively I grab the door handle and tug on it forcefully but it’s locked. 

Suddenly a loud siren begins to sound down the silent corridors, It’s aggressive tone invading my eardrums painfully. 

I pull at the handle again but it’s no use. I stifle a sob as I pull back from the door. I have to leave. There’s no way I can stay here. I must make it out.

“I’ll be back… I promise I’ll be back.” I cry as I tear my eyes away and run down the corridor as fast as my weak legs can carry me. 

The sound of footsteps echo against the metal sheets on the walls and my heart begins to thud in panic. 

It’s then that I see the door at the end of the hall, the small window on it revealing the freedom that awaits on the other side. 

I run for it in desperation and tug at the handle but it doesn’t budge. 

“No… no please!! Come on. Please!!” I beg as I pull with all my might. 

Nothing. 

I notice the keypad on the side of the door and I run towards to quickly. 

I press the buttons randomly and the red light blinks at me tauntingly, all the while the ghouls are beginning to close in. 

I run around in a panic, looking for something… anything to help. 

I grab the fire extinguisher in the corner and hold it up in front of me before running at the keypad. 

I shove the solid mental against it over and over again, letting out a ferocious scream as I go. 

Eventually it submits to my will and flashes green as the door clicks open. 

I drop the metal at my feet and run like I never have before. 

My feet meet the cool concrete and I cast my eyes around the empty parking lot. 

“The forest… I need to get to the trees!” I think to myself as I make a run for that very direction. 

There’s no going back. I’d rather die than let them take me back! 

I swing my head around and look towards my prison once again as it disappears from sight. 

Everything begins to grow blurry as though I am being dragged against my will from this reality. 

I fight against the pull, somehow knowing that I need to be present for this next moment in time. 

I squint at the large sign, my eyes trying to focus in on the information I need. 

*

* 

“WEST-MOUNT LABORATORIES”   

*

*

Alpha Sebastian’s POV 

“She’s been under a long time.” I state nervously, checking my watch for what seems like the hundredth time already. 

I tap my foot off of the floor before standing up again and pacing.

Nina stands in the corner with her colleagues, examining the machine that has been set up to monitor Summer. 

“Alpha perhaps you’d be more comfortable going for a walk… I can send for you if-“ 

“No.” I interrupt.

After what happened last time there is no way I’ll even consider it. 

I sit down again and look back at Summer’s face. 

Her brows are scrunched tightly, her features twitching ever so subtly every few seconds. 

“Shouldn’t you bring her round now?” I ask impatiently as the others converse quietly in the corner. 

Nina opens her mouth to respond but before she does the man nudges her and directs her attention to the screen in front of them. 

“Okay yes….” she says urgently, moving towards Summer to begin to wake her. 

“What’s going on? Is she okay? What’s happening?”

“She just seems in distress I don’t want to leave her any longer.” Nina answers quickly as she works on Summer. 

I watch as Summer’s eyes flick open wide and I get ready for the panic that is sure to follow. 

She looks for me instantly and I make my way to her. 

“I’m here… are you okay?” I ask softly, sitting down to pull her towards me. 

Beads of sweat have formed on her forehead. Her breathing is erratic, her eyes darting around frantically. 

Nina stands back up and moves towards her colleagues giving us some space. 

“Perhaps we should give you a moment. We will be right outside.” she says walking to the door. 

“No, stop.” Summer says shakily, putting her hand up in front of her. 

Nina does as she is asked as we all look to Summer for answers. 

“What’s wrong? What did you see?” I ask her gently. 

She grabs at the collar of her sweater uncomfortably. 

“It was awful… Sebastian I didn’t want to leave the woman behind but I could help her! I promised her I’d go back. Please I promised her! We must go back!” she begs, looking into my eyes. 

“Summer if I could I would I just need a-“ 

“Name!” she finishes eager. “Sebastian I have it! I have a name!”

Nina’s eyes widen at the news and she sits down on the chair opposite Summer. 

“Are you sure? It’s okay if you didn’t-“ 

“No I’m sure! Sebastian the place is called ‘West-Mount Laboratories’. 

Instantly I leap into action as the familiar name floats to the forefront of my mind. 

I grab Summer’s hand in mine and nod in acknowledgment. 

“West-Mount… I know it. It’s a town on the human territory. Don’t worry I’m going to sort this, okay?” I say to her adamantly. 

She nods and rubs the back of her hand over her forehead. 

“Summer you’ve been through a lot. You have to rest.” Nina says worriedly. 

She shakes her head quickly and grabs my arm desperately. 

“You have to help them Sebastian. Quick. You have to help the woman that I left behind!” 

I mind link Dan urgently to meet me in my office and instruct him to bring Aiden too. 

I place my hands either side of her face and look into her eyes. 

“I will. I promise I will.” I say softly, leaning in to land a gentle kiss on her lips. 

Just then Natalia appear in the doorway with a worried expression. 

“Sebastian, Aiden is in your office along with Dan and Murray. I’ll stay with Summer.” 

I nod in return and get up to leave. 

I don’t want to leave her. As soon as my lips touched hers, no matter how brief, I knew there is no place I’d rather be. However I know what has to be done and it’s vital I do it soon. 

Summer squeezes my hand again before I get up to make my way to my office. 

When I arrive Aiden, Dan and Murray are standing with concerned expressions. 

“Summer remembered something?” Aiden asks quickly. 

“Yes… West- Mount Laboratories. It’s the place she was kept.” I reply, grabbing keys to the cars outside. 

“West- Mount? Where is-“ Murray begins. 

“Human territory, it’s almost twenty miles away.” I answer as we rush down the hallway. 

“What’s your orders?” Dan asks seriously. 

“Round up a team to move out right now. You, Aiden and I will go with them. Murray you stay here. Make sure security is still on alert and keep and eye on Summer.” 

Everyone nods and sprints into action. 

I toss Dan a set of keys as we head outside and he disappears to round up a team of warriors. 

I jump into the first car quickly and the seats fill up around me with my highly trained team of men and women. 

I start the engine and it roars to life as I press on the accelerator quickly. 

I’m sure my team are confused by my actions, I’ll fill them in when I have calmed down but right now all I feel is sheer anger. 

Everything Summer has gone through, the pain I’ve seen etched on her face, the damage that has been done to her beautiful body and mind, filters through my head. 

I can’t help but picture her lying on the grass that first night we found her. Tiny and alone, desperately sad and confused. 

I suddenly register that I have this overwhelming need for revenge. 

The weight of the emotion returns me to the day I found out my parents were killed and the day that Bee died in front of my eyes.

After racing down the highway at a rate of knots, we pull into the small human town of West-Mount. 

Why the f**k would she be kept here of all places? 

I remember reading about it once in an article and name stuck in my mind as most things do. From what I remember it’s sleepy and remote. Not to mention werewolves are forbidden from operating on human soil. 

What the f**k were they up to? 

It isn’t difficult to find our way to the correct area and it takes us only a few minutes of driving through the town to find the entrance to the lab. 

I climb out of the car and examine the gray, unassuming building in-front of me. 

Aiden and Dan pull up in their cars a moment later and we come together quickly. 

“Dan, take the back. I won’t let any of the fuckers escape.” 

“Yes Alpha.” he nods, signalling to a few warriors to follow him. 

I begin to make my way to the entrance of the lab. 

“So whats the plan? We going in all guns blazing?” Aiden asks as we get closer. 

“f*****g damn right… everyone watch your back. We have no idea what the creepy fuckers have going on in here.” 

As we reach the door I look through the small glass window to see an empty corridor. 

The door is locked as expected. 

It doesn’t take long to break the door in, considering the mood I am in in right now, I could run through a f*****g brick wall if I had to. 

I stride down the silent corridor with the others in tow and the first thing I register is the sterile smell of the place. 

No wonder Summer hated the hospital so much. 

“Sebastian…” Aiden says calmly as we pass by a selection of empty rooms. 

I ignore him for a minute, opening each door in turn to examine inside. Each one is almost identical. 

A bed in the centre of the room. Nothing else. 

There isn’t even any bed sheets. 

“The place is empty.” I reply to Aiden, stopping to look at him. 

He nods in agreement as we reach the end of the hallway and find that there is nowhere else to go. 

“s**t!!” I growl out in annoyance, punching the wall quickly. “We were too f*****g late. All of you… go check the rooms again.” I order. 

Aiden walks towards me and scratches his chin in thought. 

“They didn’t leave anything behind… not even the bed sheets.” 

That’s when it hits me. 

“They don’t want to leave any DNA behind. Everyone stop what you are doing! Don’t touch anything else!” 

Everyone does as ordered. 

“If they are careful Sebastian they could have wiped the place down already.” Aiden says calmly. 

“I know but there could be something left behind… a f*****g spec of blood or a damn hair… we have to do this properly.” I say adamantly. 

He nods in agreement. 

“You know who to call.” I say firmly. 

“Yeah… no doubt he won’t be happy to be called out here on short notice.” 

“Tell him we will pay him well.” I call out as Aiden lifts his phone to his ear and walks outside. 

***

“Sebastian, this better be good… I was in the middle of a Dungeons and Dragons retreat! You have no idea how hard it was to get tickets.” Nelson grumbles as he grabs his gear from the boot of his car. 

“You do realise you’re a werewolf right?” Dan teases, furrowing his brows in befuddlement. 

“Sorry Nelson, you know I wouldn’t call you if it wasn’t important.” I say with a shrug as he tuts and shakes his head. 

“Come on!! I’m not paying you two to sit around and wait for a personal invitation!” he snaps at the two bored looking students in the back seat of his car. 

They haul themselves out, tucking their cellphones away as they go. 

“The younger generation nowadays… can’t keep off their damn phones.” he moans, handing them a bag of gear each. 

“Nelson, you are only thirty three years old?” Aiden snickers as we make our way back towards the lab. 

Nelson stops in his tracks. 

“Yes I do know that, as a matter of fact Aiden. Good to see you are as much as an asshole as ever.” 

“Yeah I missed you too Nelson.” Aiden replies as we reach the front door. 

“Okay… tell me what’s going on?” Nelson asks, pulling his glasses from his pocket and putting them on quickly. 

“This lab was being used to test on werewolves. We don’t know who or how many. It looks like they have scrubbed the place so we need you to work some magic. See what you can find.” I tell him. 

“Leave it to me… you came to the right person.” he answers. “Although I want you to buy me tickets for the next retreat.” 

“Done.” I answer assuredly. 

“And you’ll go with me to.” he nods seriously. 

“And Dan will go with you to.” I respond instantly. 

“Hey! No I won’t-“ 

“Sebastian…”

“Okay fine I’ll go.” I concede before he strides off through the doorway. 

I watch as Nelson and his students get to work, taking swaps and samples from many different places and surfaces. 

Nelson is a member of our pack who now lives off territory. He and Aiden where friends growing up and despite the fact that he is a grumpy asshole, he is well loved by everyone back home. 

He is a total science and tech whizz, it was only a matter of time before he left to go onto bigger and better things. 

He is now a professor at a university and has his own lab that he works out of. 

“Hey Sebastian… you’re going to want to see this!” he calls out to me loudly from inside one of the rooms. 

I walk inside and see that he is over by one of the walls. 

“Yeah?” I ask curiously. 

“This wall… the metal is slightly different.” he says, tapping it gently with his knuckle. 

I furrow my brows and feel my finger tips down the seam of the metal plate. 

I manage to get my fingers inside enough to pull it back. 

And there it is, a secret back room with all the s**t you’d expect to see in a lab. 

Microscopes, computers, large refrigerators… it has it all and more. 

“s**t…” Aiden mumbles as we move into the empty room. 

The computers have been smashed to smithereens, the refrigerators emptied. 

“Sebastian!!” Dan calls urgently.

I run back out towards his location and find him in another room, with yet another secret door pulled open. 

“Look.” he says nodding his head inside. 

I walk in and see a large furnace in the corner of the room. 

I pull open the door to see a pile of ashes inside. 

“f*****g hell, they must have burned a whole load of s**t before they left.” Dan says, shaking his head. 

“Looks like it.” I reply, reaching my hand inside to grab the only solitary scrap of paper that has survived the brutal flames. 

I hold it in my hand and turn it over carefully, examining its singed appearance. 

A small emblem catches my eye…an oval shape with a letter V inside. 

I freeze on the spot. 

My mind reaches for the last place I saw this design and the image hits me like a bolt of lightening. 

“AIDEN!! MIND LINK NATALIA NOW!” I shout out, urgently racing out of the room.